African Americans

This zine is about the contemporary painter Kara Walker.

"A Call to Action is a poignant and uncompromising analysis of the criminal/justice system which spends millions of dollars annually, and controls the lives of approximately one million inmates--of which nearly two-thirds are Black and members of other non-white groups. Of particular concern is the over-representation of Black men who traverse the criminal justice system as though it was especially designed for them."

This year-end double issue focuses on the coming presidency of George W. Bush, including questions about disenfranchisement of African Americans in the 2000 Presidential Elections, the Bush Cabinet, and the Supreme Court. Other features include a look at the failing peace process in Columbia and new president of Syria, Assad Bashar.

<em>Near West Side Stories: Struggles for Community in Chicago's Maxwell Street Neighborhood</em> is an ongoing story of unequal power in Chicago. Four representatives of immigrant and migrant groups that have had a distinct territorial presence in the area&mdash;one Jewish, one Italian, one African-American, and one Mexican&mdash;reminisce fondly on life in the old neighborhood and tell of their struggles to save it and the 120-year-old Maxwell Street Market that was at its core. <p> <em>Near West Side Stories</em> brings this saga of community strife up to date, while giving a voice to the everyday people who were routinely discounted or ignored in the big decisions that affected their world. Though slaying that dragon&mdash;fending off the encroachments of those wielding great power&mdash;was nearly impossible, we see in the details of their lives the love for a place that compelled Harold, Florence, Nate, and Hilda to make the quest.</p>